Door lock



J. H. RCETHEL 2,646,300

DOOR LOCK July 21, 1953 Filed Nov. 15, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 21, 1953 DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 15, 1951, Serial N 0. 256,553

This invention relates to a latch control mechanism for swinging doors, particularly the doors 10 Claims. (01. 292280) of automobile or other vehicle bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved door latch mechanism which is characterized by its'simplicity'and compactness in construction and which is economical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation and eflicient in use.

The improved door latch mechanism of the present invention comprises ,a rotary latchv device, detent means for holding the latch device in latching position, detent release lever means for disengaging the detent means from the latch device, and a pivoted member or lever havingv a blocking means which may be positioned in blocking relation to a blocking portion on the detent release lever to render the latter inoperative to efiect disengagement of the detent means from the latch device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved means actuatable by the inside door handle remote control mechanism for shifting the:blocking lever into blocking position with respect to the detent release lever means upon manipulation" of the inside door handle in one direction, said improved means also being actuatable to effect restoration of the blocking lever'to non-blocking position and to simultane- 'ously disengage the detent means from the latch device upon manipulation of the inside door handle in the opposite direction.

Other objects and features of this invention will appear in the following description and appendedclaims, referencebeing had to; the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the v mechanism mounted onthe case plate of a door latch mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substanfrom the inside striker or keeper device mounted on a body pillar.

Before-explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not-limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention'is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by Way of example, a certain embodiment of the present invention asapplied to the door and door frame structures of an automobile body. The latch device constructed in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a case 'plate I!) which is provided with screw of the door. The present latch device is provided with a rotatable'toothed latch or bolt l2 positioned at the outer face of the case plate I0, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting stud shaft or pivot l3 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed. as a bearing for the stud shaft. The inner end of the stud shaft i3 is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member I4 and is riveted thereto. From the foregoing construction it will'be seen that the toothed latch or bolt I2 is rigidly secured to the detent engaging member or ratchet member l4, being concentric therewith on the stud I3.

tions lZa, such as five, which are spaced equally entirely around the periphery of the latch so as vto provide in eiiect a gear type latch. Thedetent tially through lines 22 of Fig. 1 and also illustrating a remote control handle mechanism for engaging member or ratchet I4 is formed around its periphery with a number of abutments or shoulders I 4awhich correspond in number to the I number of toothlike projections in. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment the latch l2 has, for example, five toothlike projections 12a and the detent engaging member [4 has five equally spaced detent engaging abutments or shoulders Ma.

Cooperablewith'the peripheral notched edge of the ratchet M is a swinging detent, pawl or dog 15 pivotally mounted one, shoulder rivet l6 secured to the case plate H). The detent i5 is a two arm memberhaving one arm I! extending in a substantially downwardly direction and cooperable with the teeth or projections Ma of the ratchet member I 4. The detent arm I! is'engageable with any one of the teeth Ma in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to hold the ratchet member and hence the bolt I2 in looking [position against rotation in a counterclockwise direction. The second arm I8 of the detent member H: extends in a substantially horizontal direction toward the flange The detent arm H has a further downwardly extending extension [9 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Associated with the detent is a vertically extending detent actuating or release lever 20 which is pivoted intermediate its ends upon the shoul der rivet or stud I6, the same stud on which the detent i is pivotally mounted on the case plate. The release lever has a lever arm 2| extending downwardly below the pivot l6 and overlying a substantial portion of the detent arm I! and its extension H1. The lever arm 2| is provided with an aperture 22 through which projects a pin 23 extending upwardly from the detent arm il. By virtue of this .construction the lever arm 2| and the .detent arm I! are so interconnected that if the detent release lever 20 isswung about its pivotal axis in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. .1, the edge wall 22a of th aperture 22 will engage the lug 23 and thereby SWlllg the detent member l5 about its pivotal axis in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, and the detent arm I? will be disengaged from the ratchet member l4.

The detent release lever 20 has an upwardly extending lever arm 24 formed with a flange 24a. thereon. This lever arm 24 is adapted to be engaged on the outer sid of the flange 2% by an outside manually operable means, such as a push button 25, for imparting the pivotal or swinging movement to the detent release lever 20 about its pivot 16 necessary to cause disengagement of the detent l5 from the ratchet M.

The detent arm I! i yieldingly urged toward the ratchet M and the release lever 20 is similarly urged toward its normal position seen .in Fig. l by means of a single coiled spring 26 anchored at its inner end to a kerf 2'! in the stud l6. This spring has a downwardly extending arm 26a, engageable with a portion of the pin 23 projecting through the aperture 22 in the release lever 26 and urges the arm l1 and therefore the whole detent member l5 in a clockwise direction,.as seen in Fig. .1, about the pivotal axis l6 so as to yieldingly hold the detent arm I] in latching engagement with a tooth I la of the ratchet l4. Due to the interlocking connection between the lever arm H and the release lever arm 2 the spring 26 will also function 'to urge the lever arm 2| in a clockwise direction about the pivotal axis 56. The lever arm 24 will thus be urged outwardly so as to be maintained in the normal nonoperating position shown in Fig. 1. Thus, a single spring 26 is utilized to maintain the detent and release lever in their normal positions.

In accordancewith the embodiment, of the invention herein illustrated means is provided for restraining or blocking the detent release lever 20 against operation frornthe outside of the door. The blocking means comprises a lever 28 pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 29 secured to the case plate 10. As illustrated, the pivot axis of the blocking lever 28 i located belowthe pivot axis of the ratchet l4 and the lever 28 extends in a substantially horizontal direction. 7 At its outer end 28a, the right end as viewed in Fig. 1, theblocking lever isprovided with afiange 38, which flange, when the blocking lever 28 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, lies in the path of swinging movement of the lower end or blocking porlever 28.

tion 2|a of the arm 2| of the detent release lever 20 and thereby blocks swinging movement of the lever 20 in a counterclockwise direction. Since it is necessary for the detent release lever 20 to swing in a counterclockwise direction in order that the interconnection between the release lever 20 and the detent |5 result in movement of the'detent arm I! out of engagement with the ratchet l4, the relationship of the flange 36 to the end 2la of thet release lever arm 2| renders the outer manually operable means, such as the push button 25, inoperative to release the latch mechanism from the outside of the door and the door cannot be opened.

The present latch device incorporates a remote control mechanism so constructed as to permit release or disengagement of the detent means |5 by operation of the inside door handle independently of the release lever 28 and regardless of whether the latter is blocked against swinging movement through the medium of the blocking This remote control mechanism is preferably manually actuated irom the inside of the door remote from the case plate In by means of a door handle 3i which may be turned or swung in two directions. Referring particularlyto Fig. 2, the remote control mechanism comprises a bell crank or two arm lever 3.2 pivoted at 33 through the medium of a shoulder rivet to the case plate flange 1 The bell crank 32 has a longitudinally extending arm 32a overlying at its outer end the detent means arm H3. The bell crank 32 also has a depending lever arm 32b pivotally connected by a pivot 0r shoulder stud 32 to the forward end of a remote control link 35 which at its opposite end is pivoted at 35 to the upper end of a swinging lever 31. This lever is attached to the shank o1 shaft 38 of the inner door handle, this shaft being journalled in a mounting plate 39 and bracket .40 attached thereto. A substantially U-shaped spring 4| is mounted on the bracket 49 so that the two upstanding legs Ha' are in engagement with opposite sides of the lever 31.. The legs ila function to return the lever 31 and therefore the handle 3| to its normal position after the door handle has been released. The base of the spring 2| is provided with an indentation Mb adapted to be seated in a notch 3m in the lower 7 end of the lever 31 when the latter is in its norments.

Regardless of whether the release lever 20 is blocked or unblocked, the foregoing remote control mechanism construction permits the door to be unlatched from the inside. Turning movement of the inside door handle 35 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed ,in Fig. 2 will cause the bell crank lever 32 .to be swung so as to depress the arm 32a which will result in the detent arm is being depressed. Depression of the detent arm it results in pivotal movement of the detent means 55 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 thereby causing the detent arm l? to become disengaged from the ratchet l4 thus permitting free rotation of the bolt l2.

As previously mentioned, the detent arm H has an extension i9 which extension is utilized to swing the blocking lever 28 from release lever blocking position to non-blocking position in the event-that the latch mechanism is released by actuation of the inside handle operated remote 1 control mechanism while the blocking lever is in blocking position. As shown in Fig. '1, the end 28a of the blocking lever 28 extendsbetween the surface of the case plate I!) and the under surface of the lower end of the lever arm 2| when the flange 38 of the blocking lever28 is in blocking position relative to the blockin portion Zia of the lever arm 2:. The upper edge of the blocking lever end 28a is formed as. a cam surface 42 which lies in close proximity to the end of the detent arm extension [9 when the blocking lever is in blocking position. Upon pivotal actuation of the detent l5, as occurs upon swinging of the inside door handle in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the end of the extension !9 will strike the cam edge 42 of the blocking lever 2-8 and swing the latter downwardly to a position in which atoggle spring 43 will cross its dead center position and urge the blocking lever to its full unblocked position as blocking lever 28 into blocking position. This may be accomplished by turning the inside door handle in a direction opposite to that which it is turned to cause disengagement of the detent means from the ratchet M. A bell crank or two arm lever 35 is pivoted at 46 through the medium of a shoulder rivet to the case plate flange ll. As shown in Fig. 2, the pivot axis of the bell crank 45' is vertically spaced below thepivot axis of the bell crank 32. The bell crank 45 has a longitudinally extending arm 45a which overlies at its outer end the end 28b of the blocking lever 28, the arm 45a being in immediate abutting or opposing relation to the upper edge of the end 282) when the blockin lever is in non-blocking position,'that is, with the end 28b in abutting relation to the stop #4 and the, blocking flange 30 out of blocking position relative to the blocking portion 2 la on the release lever arm 2 l. Thebell crank 45 also has an upwardlyextending arm 65b "having a lost motion slot 4'! adapted to receive the shoulder stud 34 which pivotally connectsthe bell crank32 to the draft link 35'.

The lost motion slot 4? permits the. stud 34 to move upwardly relatively to the pivot axis of the bell crank as the stud 3% is swung about the pivot axis of the bell crank 32 since it is fixed to the arm-32b of the latter; It will be readily understood that theshoulder stud could be fase tened to the arm 45b of the bell crank iii-in which case the slot ll would be placed in the arm 32b of the bell crank 32.

Thus, to move the blocking lever 28 from non,- blocking to blocking position it is only necessary to swing'the inside door handle in a clockwise diso as to position the blocking flange 30 thereon intob locking position relative to the blocking portion am of therelease lever 20.

r 6 As has been described, swinging of theinner door handle in the opposite or counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 results in the bell crank 32 pivotally actuating the detent means l5 so that the extension 'I 9 thereof will abut the cam edge 42 of the blocking lever 28 and swing the same, back to non-blocking position. Accordingly, if'the vehicle door is locked from the inside by swinging the inner door handle into locking direction the blocking lever 28 is automatically restored to non-blocking position as soon as the inner door handle is swung in-the opposite direction to permit egress through that door of the vehicle. v

' In the event that the inner door handle is swung to place the blocking lever 28 in blocking positionwhile the door is in an open position, the extension 1.) acts as an automatic kickout or restoration means. Rotation of the ratchet clockwise direction as View in Fig. 1, which rotation occurs upon engagement of the rotary bolt I2 with the striker or keeper device, causes the abutments I ia to engage the detent arm I? and pivot the detent means l5 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 The extension l9,

trically of the axis of the key cylinder mechanism I Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates the GOODBYE: v

tive relationship between the rotary toothed latch or bolt l2 and the keeper or striker device, generally designated 5i, tohold the door in latched position. In general the keeper or striker 5| comprises a C-Shaped structure having upper and lower body portions 52 and 53, respectively. The

lower body portion 53 is formed at its lower edge with two integral depending tooth-like projections 54 and 55 with which the teeth IZa of the latch bolt l2 mesh to hold the door in either final 55 the door is in safety locking position,- and when an adiacent pair of te'eth'lZa embrace the tooth 54 of the striker; the bolt is in final locking position.

The upper surface 53a of the lower body portion 53 forms an inclined ramp engageable by a suitably contoured dovetail or abutment 55 fastened tothe outer faced the case plate Iii. A yieldable wedging means 'iscarried on the underside of the upper body portion" 52 ofthe striker device and engages the upper surface of the dovetail or abutment 56 to firmly hold the door against vibratory movement in, a vertical plane. The

. wedging means in the present instance comprises a wedge block 5? controlled by a compression spring 58, the wedge block and spring being slidably retained within a recess Si! in the lower sur-.

face of the upper body portion 52 by means of a guide rod 59 fastened to theendwallsof the re- Win a V cess 60. The spring 58 is mounted under initial compression and constantly urges the wedge outwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 3. During closing movement of thedoor the wedge block 51 is engaged by the upper surface of the dovetail and is carried inwardly to some extent against the action of the spring, the wedge block will constantly tend to tighten itself against the upper surface of the abutment 53 and hence maintain the bolt [2 firmly in engagement with the tooth 54 on the striker thus minimizing the possible vibratory -movement of the door in a vertical direction.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, and inner manually operable means comprising an actuator shiftable in opposite directions, two bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange for swinging movement about spaced axes, means pivotally connecting said actuator to said bell crank levers, one of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to a part of said detent means and the other of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to a part of said member, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever part to abut said detent means thereby to disengage the same from said latch device and said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door,

a support having a plate portion for disposition,

at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on .said plate portion and .engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, inner manually operable lever means, a shiftable link pivot-ally connected at one end to said lever means and longitudinally shiftable thereby in opposite directions, and two vertically spaced bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange each having'a part thereof connected to the other end of said link, one of said bell crank levers having a part in opposing relation to a part of said detent means and the other of said bell crank levers having a part in opposing relation to a part of said member, whereby upon said link being shifted in one direction said one bell crank lever part will abut the detent means part and pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and upon said link being shifted in the opposite direction said other .bell crank lever part will abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent means.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means there by to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, and inner manually operable means comprising an actuator shiftable in opposite directions, two bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange for swinging movement about spaced axes, means pivotally connecting said actuator to said bell crank levers, one of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to a part of said -member and the other of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to one part of said detent means, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one hell crank 1ever part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever "thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device, said member having a second part movable into the path of pivotal movement of a second part of said detent means when said member portion is disposed in blocking relation to said lever, said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever part to abut said one part of the detent means thereby to pivot-ally actuate the de tent means to disengage the same from said latch device and to cause said second part of the detent means to abut said second part of said member and swing the same to position said portion thereof out of blocking position relative to the outer manually operable lever.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a :rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, and inner manually operable means comprising an actuator shiftable in opposite directions, two bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange for swinging movement about spaced axes, means pivotally connecting said actuator to said bell crank levers, the point of connection of said actuator to said bell crank levers being'inte'r to abut said detent means thereby to disengage the same from said latch device and said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door,

a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotallymounted'on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latchthereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, and inner manually operable means comprising an actuator shift-'- able in opposite directions, two bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange for swinging movement about spaced axes, means pivotally connecting said actuator to said bell crank levers, said bell crank levers being constructed and arranged to swing simultaneously in opposite directions upon shifting of said actuator, said connecting means being'fixed to one of said bell crank levers and being movable in a slot in the other of said bell crank levers, one of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to a part of said detent means and the other of said bell crank levers having a part thereof in opposing relation to a part of said ing position, outer manually operable means inmember, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever part to abut said detent means thereby to disengage the same from saidlatch device and saidactuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device. V

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter 10 and longitudinally shiftable thereby in oppositev directions, and two vertically spaced two arm'- bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange, each bell crank lever having one arm thereof pivotally connected to the other end of said link, one of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to apart of said detent means and the other of said bell and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of said detent means.-

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging-door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable' with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, an inner manually operable actuator shiftable in opposite directions, and two vertically spaced two arm bell crank levers pivotally-mountedion said flange, each part of its other arm in opposing relation to a' part of said member, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever arm part to abut said detent means thereby to disengage the same from'said latch device and said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever arm part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof 'willblock pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device. g

, 8. In a latchmechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plateportion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter fromsaidlatch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, an inner manually operable actuator shiftable in opposite directions, and two vertically spaced two arm bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange, means pivotally connecting one arm of each of said bell crank levers to said actuator, said connecting means being fixed to one of said arms and being movable in a slot in the other of said arms, one of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to a part of said detent means and the other of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to a part of said member, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever arm part to abut said detent means thereby to disengage the same from said latch device and said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever arm part to abut said member part and swing said member into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective to effect disengagement of the detent means fromsaid latch device.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means in-v cluding a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, an inner manually operable actuator shiftable in opposite directions, and two vertically spaced two arm bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange, each bell crank lever having one arm thereof pivotally connected to said actuator, one of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to a part of said member and the other of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to one part of said detent means, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever arm part to abut said member part and swing the same into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineifective to effect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device, said member having a second part movable into the path of pivotal movement of a second part of said detent means when said member portion is disposed in blocking relation to said lever, said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever arm part to abut said one part of the detent means thereby to pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and to cause said second part of the detent means to abut said second part of said member and swing the same to position said portion thereof out of blocking position relative to the outer manuall operable lever.

10. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion,- detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for pivotally actuating said detent means thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, a member mounted for swinging movement on said plate portion, an inner manually operable actuator shiftable in opposite directions,

and two vertically spaced two arm bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said flange, means pivotally connecting one arm of each of said bell crank levers to said actuator, said connecting means being fixed to one of said arms and being movable in a slot in the other of said arms, one of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to a part of said member and the other of said bell crank levers having a part of its other arm in opposing relation to one part of said detent means, said actuator upon being shifted in one direction causing said one bell crank lever arm part to abut said member part and swing the same into a position in which a portion thereof will block pivotal movement of said first mentioned lever thereby to render said outer manually operable means ineffective toeffect disengagement of the detent means from said latch device, said member having a second part movable into the path of pivotal movement of a second part of said detent means when said. member portion is disposed in blocking relation to said lever, said actuator upon being shifted in the opposite direction causing said other bell crank lever arm part to abut said one part of the detent means thereby to pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and to cause said second part of the detent means to abut said second part of said member and swing the same to position said portion thereof out of blocking position relativev to the outer manually operable lever.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

